Lefties Thames, Shaw face slew of southpaws
PHOENIX -- Eric Thames returned to the Brewers' lineup Saturday after sitting out a game with a sore right knee, and he saw something he's seen less than expected this spring: a right-handed pitcher.Both of the Brewers' left-handed additions to the lineup -- first baseman Thames and third baseman Travis
PHOENIX --
Both of the Brewers' left-handed additions to the lineup -- first baseman Thames and third baseman
"I was talking to Shaw, and it's like we're facing all lefties," Thames said. "That's awesome, because that's all we're going to see from the sixth, seventh inning on."
Said Shaw: "It's nice to see results every once in a while, but in Spring Training, it's all about feel. Especially against lefties, that comfort level is starting to come back after not playing against a lot of them last year."
Shaw, with Boston last season, fell into a platoon after the Brewers traded right-handed-hitting third baseman
In Milwaukee, there is the potential Shaw will share time with
Seeing so many Spring Training left-handers, Shaw said, "is perfect for me. Right now, I'm seeing the ball, I'm not really chasing a ton of pitches."
Thames also has a potential platoon partner at first base if
"I wasn't really worried about results [entering Spring Training]," Thames said. "I just wanted to see the pitching. Just getting the timing down and trying to springboard into the season. ... You've got to ride the waves. Guys that are hot now, they'll start to cool off at the end and into the season. It doesn't count [in Spring Training]."
He was a late scratch Friday with soreness in his knee, but he said there was no structural problem. Thames chalked it up common Spring Training soreness.
Santana scratched
The Brewers scratched right fielder
Adam McCalvy has covered the Brewers for MLB.com since 2001. Follow him on Twitter @AdamMcCalvy, like him on Facebook and listen to his podcast.